Introduction
In Kenya, “hustle” is not just a word; it is a national philosophy, a badge of honor, and sometimes a polite synonym for economic desperation. Everyone is a hustler. There is the matatu driver who doubles as a DJ, the civil servant running a side gig, or a graduate selling thrifted clothes online while waiting for ‘an opportunity. It is no wonder that during the 2022 elections, President William Ruto rode this sentiment to power with his populist hustler narrative, presenting himself as the champion of the ordinary Kenyan battling elite systems. But beneath the inspiring rhetoric lies an uncomfortable truth. Kenya's version of the hustle economy celebrates individual grit while quietly abandoning the social foundations that sustain real progress. Unlike Germany's Soziale Marktwirtschaft (Social Market Economy), which blends free markets with social welfare and institutional fairness, Kenya's hustle narrative glorifies struggle without scaffolding support. The result? A nation sprinting endlessly on economic treadmills, resilient, yes, but running nowhere fast.
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